I’ll Be Gone in the Dark Review

Operating during the 1970s and 1980s in California, the man who eventually became known as the Golden State Killer committed at least 50 rapes, 12 murders, and numerous home invasions, and DNA evidence was connecting him to cold cases as late as 2011. Despite being one of the most (if not the most) prolific serial criminal in American history, GSK was not well known until a few years ago.

Michelle McNamara, the late author of TrueCrimeDiary.com, became obsessed with finding his identity. Unfortunately, she passed away before a suspect could be identified and her book could be completed. Despite all this, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark is a truly fascinating, and sometimes terrifying, look at the man who terrorized California for a decade and the woman determined to find him. Halfway between a memoir and the typical true crime, McNamara’s truly lovely writing spares no detail when speaking of his crimes or her passion for the case. Her final “Letter to An Old Man” will give you chills. It’s a book that will keep you up late to read just one more chapter – after checking that all the doors and windows are locked, of course.